180º

For the past two days, there has been an Executive Council meeting for about 200 of the senior management of the company I work for (purposely unnamed here).  I was very involved with the off-site safety/security assessment, securing the facility, non-disclosure agreements, staffing, etc.  Busy couple of days but fun.  Today I parked in the exact same parking garage, in the exact same parking space, that I parked in for years when I worked for my old company.  But today was different.  VERY different.   Here are a few examples:

• I wore a suit but that was unusual and not the norm
• My beard was "on"
• I went in early and liked it
• The team I was working with was using the latest technology and equipment
• Independent thinking and creativity was encouraged
• I paid for my parking with a corporate credit card
• Lunch was provided
• The CEO was motivating and positive and encouraged thinking outside of the box
• New bonus and pension plans were announced which represented a major investment in the employees and future of the company
• My boss left me to run the security program and didn't micro-manage me
• At the end of the program, the #2 in the company invited the "cast" to the stage.  This included all of the behind-the-scenes people who set up and coordinated the event.  We were honestly appreciated and received a huge round of applause (that was not prompted).

Who would have guessed that I would be where I am today?!  Certainly not me.  All those days that I parked in that spot, I never imagined the culture and atmosphere and position I am in today.  God is good.